Combustion-pan for bomb-calorimeters.



V. H. M. ROEHR'ICH. comausnom PAN ron soma cALomMETERs. APPLICATION FILED )ULY 27, 1914- RENEWED APR. 3.1916.

Patented Dee. 31, 1918.

)yf/21.7.6555 S VICTOR I-I. M. ROEHRICI-I, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

-COIVIBUSTION-PAN FOR BOMB-CALORIMETERS.

Application filed July 27, 1914, Serial No. 853.530. Renewed April 3, 1916.

To all yiff/10m t may concern.'

Be it known that. I, VICTOR H. M. Bonnnrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combustion- Pans for Bomb-Calorimeters, of which the following is a specification.

In determining the thermo units liberated by the combustion of any material by the use of an oxygen bomb calorimeter, it has been customary to use a. fuse heated by an electric current in order to ignite the material in the oxygen filled bomb. This fuse in the form of a wire has usually been placed in the mass of rcombustible material where the heat is so intense as to melt it, making it impossible to use the fuse wire for more than one determination even if a very heavy platinum wire, say No. 16 B. and S. gage were used. To make it possible to use the same wire repeatedly, and to thus save eX- pense and time is the primary object of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure l is a vertical central section of an ordinary bomb calorimeter constructed with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective of the combustion pan removed from the calorimeter.

In the drawing A indicates the ordinary bomb calorimeter having a receptacle B and a removable collar C, which serves to clamp a cover D, tightly over the receptacle to complete a gas tight chamber within. In the cover D is the usual gas duct E, which is adapted to be closed by the usual valve F, which forms one terminal of an electric circuit passing through the structure. Immediately adjacent the valve in the cover is a terminal piece G, forming the other side of the circuit and secured to the cover by a bolt I-I, which is suitably insulated by the parts I from the cover. This bolt has formed integral therewith a. depending rod J, which is bent into a loop at its lower end for the purpose of receiving and holding the co1nbustion pan or capsule K, in which the fuel to be tested is placed. This pan is usually made out of platinum so as to withstand high temperatures, and at one side is are ranged with a small bay L, containing a groove, depression or channel, which communicates with the main body of the pan. In this bay is placed a wire fuse M, of short length and of about #28 gage or other suit- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 19118.

Serial No. 88,702.

able size, of platinum or other suitable material. One end of the wire fuse is fastened to the pan by a small bolt N or other suitable means and its opposite end is loosely attached to 'a support O, which is an electrical conductor secured to the cover D and completes the electric circuit between the terminals, through the fuse and the pan, it being noted that the pan is held in a support .which forms part of the electric circuit. The wire fuse is bent downwardly between its ends, so as to dip into the combustible material which is placed in the pan and eX- tends into the bay L.

In operation the greater part of the com bustible material to be tested is placed in the body of the pan and a small portion eX- tended into the bay covering the fuse wire. The pan is then placed in the holder J 'and the fuse adjusted in contact 'with the conductor support O. The cover D is then placed on receptacle A and the collar C screwed down upon the receptacle until the cover is fastened tightly to form a gas tight chamber within the receptacle and cover. After filling the calorimeter bomb with oxygen and preparing for making the test in the usual manner, the electric circuit is closed for a few seconds, and then again opened. The heated fuse wire ignites the material covering it, and the combustion spreads igniting the bulk of the sample. The heat developed near the fuse wire is relatively small, so that the wire remains to be used repeatedly and is not destroyed as in prior devices. By this arrangement the fuse wire is protected from the relatively intense heat to which it would beexposed if placed in the main portion of the sample as heretofore.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and appliedv to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. In combination with a bomb calorimeter, a combustion pan supported therein and formed with a bay, an electric fuse projecting in that part of the material to be tested contained in said bay and adapted by the passage of an electric current therethrough to ignite the fuel contained in the bay and causing the body portion of the uel to be consumed without melting said use.

2. A calorimeter having a combustion chamber adapted to be connected with one side of an electric circuit, a combustion pan support in said chamber connected with the other side of an electric circuit and insulated rom the structure of said chamber, a combustion pan carried by said support, said pan being formed with a bay, a wire fuse attached to said pan and dipping down into said bay in position to ignite the fuel contained in said pan and a conductor supporting the free end of said fuse above said pan and connected with the structure of said chamber to complete an electric circuit passing between said support and the structure of said chamber and through said fuse.

3. In combination with a bomb calorimeter, a combustion pan for holding material to be tested having a channel leading from its body and means associated with said channel for igniting the contents of the channeland pan and causing the combustion of the material being tested without damaging said igniting means.

4. In combination with a bomb calorimeter, a combustion pan having a small adjacent channel holding a small proportion of the material being tested in said pan, and means in said channel for igniting and causing the combustion of the contents of said channel and the body of said pan, without exposing said igniting means to the damaging heat efects of the contents of the body of said pan.

5. A combustion pan for calorimeters having a connection arranged to hold a small proportion of the body of the material to be tested away from the damaging heat effectsof said body, an igniter arranged in contact with the material held in said con-v nection and electrical means for heating said igniter while it is in said connection.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my, name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VICTOR II. M. ROEHRICH..

Witnesses:

CLARENCE W. HALLERT, STELLA L. WASCHENBERGEN.

Gopes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

